Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Dubai deserves Expo 2012

Dubai deserves Expo 2012

For months the phrase ‘Expo 2020’ has been seen on street corners, highway billboards and inside malls around Dubai.

The World Expo is one of the world’s biggest events in terms of its ability to deliver a lasting economic and cultural impact on the host city. Dubai is a front-runner for the World Expo 2020, competing against Brazil, Russia, Thailand and Turkey.

There is a strange feeling in Dubai that it will win. The city is in great shape – it has a truly world-class infrastructure. It has been ranked as having the 34th best infrastructure in the world by the Mercer City Infrastructure Ranking – the only Middle East city to appear in the list. It beats Madrid, Melbourne, Geneva, Brussels and many more. In 2013 the government of Dubai allocated 35 percent of its budget for further infrastructure investment. The economy and recent surge in jobs growth also puts Dubai in pole position.

The government of Dubai announced in December 2012 that it would increase public spending by six percent in 2013 whilst also bringing down its deficit to below 0.5 per cent. The figures are impressive. Besides the statistics, the fact is that Dubai ‘feels’ right. It has a strong message of optimism. It is attracting world-class talent, foreign direct investment and it is increasingly seen as a major player in the development of renewables. It is a force to be reckoned with. The fact that the sun always shines also helps.

Dubai has worked hard to shake off its economic troubles. It has rebounded quickly. It’s a superb place to live, a safe place to raise children and a place that offers better job security than the struggling economies of the west. Dubai is a rare find in these difficult economic times – confident, established and growing at a steady and sustainable rate. It’s a great place to build a career and it deserves to win the Expo 2020.